Keep in mind Ian that Novichok was not invented for use under peaceful conditions and where individual victims could get the best and quickest treatment available worldwide. As you know well, the NHS is marvellous! Here's a quote from Alastair Hay, Professor of Environmental Toxicology at Leeds University:"In a way it is a miracle really," says Prof Hay. "But also a testimony to our NHS: great doctors well-trained, looking after people appropriately and well. "So it's the skill of our doctors that's ensured their survival. Without it, I'm pretty certain they would not have survived."

The quote is from this article which explains the main reasons why they survived:
'Miracle' recovery: How Sergei and Yulia Skripal survived the novichok attack LINK

Now here's some good news...
`Climate change: 'Right to repair' gathers force' LINK
`...citizens in the EU and parts of the USA will soon get a "right to repair" - of sorts. This consists of a series of proposals from European environment ministers to force manufacturers to make goods that last longer and are easier to mend. The European proposals refer to lighting, televisions and large home appliances. At least 18 US states are considering similar laws in a growing backlash against products which can’t be prised apart because they’re glued together, or which don’t have a supply of spare parts, or repair instructions...'

As to the second, I noticed the trend towards non repairable products back in the early 80's when manufacturers started using rivets in toasters instead of screws! Plastic moulded kettles quickly followed. I always also quote that with the advent of the VCR, the badged JVC first generation VHS video recorders came with a 650 page workshop manual with a 200 page circuit description, the rest was exploded diagrams and part numbers for every component, nut, bolt and washer. When I left the trade in 1989, GEC were manufacturing video recorders in Wales which were predominantly built with multiple surface mount IC's on a single PBC and nylon gears, they came with one sheet of A4 as a service manual which showed you where the main input fuse was located. Three engineers at the firm and we used to fight over who answered the telephone and got the field service job!

Good luck with the initiative for repairable products, I doubt that it will make any difference.

P. I remember you saying that.... All right, we are a couple of cynical old buggers.... (Or realists!)
Right to repair..... I agree with all you say Ian. In my experience, the more expensive and well-regarded a product is, the better the documentation. That Uher recorder was a good example!
I always have the suspicion that the reason why computers were inserted in modern cars was to make them home repair or street corner garage proof against maintenance. Can you remember when Mercedes were forced to disclose the code of their diagnostic software? It was quite obvious that they wanted all service and maintenance to be done by approved agents at exorbitant prices. A parallel cunning wheeze was the design of components that needed specialised tools for dis-assembly. These were very hard to get hold of.
Gone are the days when cars came with a set of spanners and a screwdriver!
Later.... see THIS BBC report of the news from Jaguar Land-Rover that they are to cut 5,000 jobs in the UK as a result of the decline in sales abroad, particularly China.

Stanley Challenger Graham
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net

"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!

First time in my life that I have known of a food bank in West Craven. A couple of my party friends run that and it is very well used. It has been running for a few years now and only been needed during this present governments tenure.

Noticed the other day that the ATM at Lloyds Bank was out of order. The building looks really drab now with no branding signs and the ATM removed and boarded up. It matches the former Yorkshire Bank directly opposite. Down to a single bank now in the town and only two cash machines, I can see those overworked at weekend so you may have to take pot luck if you need any cash.

What I don't understand about Trump and his Mexico wall is why he doesn't drop the wall idea and use drones and satellites to detect and track movements at the border in the desert; it would surely cost less than building his gigantic wall. Satellites can now detect individual humans easily and satellite data could be used to direct drones to targets then track them. Satellites could even show movements of people on the Mexican side of the border so that a drone could be waiting for them if they crossed.

You are making the mistake of looking for logic and common sense in Trump Tiz! He shoots from the hip without thought, never takes advice, never reads anything and is convinced that his brain is connected directly to God and so every thought is a flash of genius. Like a shotgun, occasionally a pellet hits the bull's eye but the vast majority are wide of the mark. He is spraying thoughts out indiscriminately at present. For instance, his latest cunning wheeze of by-passing Congress by declaring an emergency is a terrible idea, even his own son is advising against it but if he gets mad enough he will do it.
When he first got the Presidency I wondered how long it would be before he imploded, we may be getting close to that now.....
The fact that Margaret flies out of Perth on Sunday........

Stanley Challenger Graham
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net

"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!

I was hoping there might be some logic and common sense elsewhere in the US political system but nobody seems to be considering alternatives. Instead they're all banging their heads against the wall (so to speak!).

This is useful in understanding Trump's behaviour...
`Art of the Deal: How Trump's own book explains his battle for the border wall' LINK

An email from Katie my grand daughter to let me know that Margaret was delayed slightly into Dubai but is now airborne again and heading towards us. The marvels of modern communications! I've looked the flight up and she left Dubai at 03:28 due in at Manchester at 11:20. Yippee!!

Stanley Challenger Graham
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net

"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!

No Maz, she's just glad to see me..... I got the appointments for Airedale yesterday. Every Tuesday for 6 weeks starting on the 22nd so she has two trips already booked.
She says I am a better colour than she is, I told her it must be the dye they injected into me for the CT scan!

Stanley Challenger Graham
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net

"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!

Just heard an interview on R4 about 'fast fashion' and an outfit called Boohoo. I don't fully understand it but I was struck by the interviewees who said that they buy for one event and discard afterwards. Speaking as a man whose wardrobe is full of 40 year old clothes I am baffled!

Stanley Challenger Graham
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net

"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!

Local fell runner John Boothman going well in the Montane Spine Race along the Pennine Way. He has just checked in and out of the Tan Hill Inn looking fresh and full of running! That's the half way point, but he is facing Cross Fell in the dark later on today. You can follow progress here. There is a remarkable woman sharing the lead at the moment, and John is number 112.

You would be surprised at how many young ladies down at the Colne pool go in for triathlon evens. Some even enter the iron men/ women races. I must admit I see them in the pool more often when they are recovering from their injuries. I always ask them if they have talked to their psychiatrist?

So you are in the habit of talking to half naked young ladies P? Hmmmmm.
Thanks for the comments on the pic, Mags is well and has hired a 4WD car, she is used to cold weather and I can always lend her a Damart Vest!
Did I ever tell you about her going for her Class 1 HGV licence when the was 8 months pregnant? Some woman! She was failed on the day by the examiner who only faulted her on one thing, not leaning out of the window when reversing. When he told M this she asked him if he had ever tried doing that when 8 months gone. He had never noticed, apologised and told her to book another test straight away as he couldn't alter the report he had done. She did that and passed......
The events in Parliament of course......

Stanley Challenger Graham
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net

"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!